SB 167 Summary

• Establishes public college-preparatory boarding schools for at-risk students that are operated by private nonprofit entities and funded through the state education system.

• Requires eligible students to be entitled to attend a participating school district, at-risk of academic failure, from families below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, and meet at least two additional criteria (disciplinary issues, low test scores, disability status, academic intervention referral, single-parent household, non-custodial guardianship, or imprisoned family member).

• Creates the College-Preparatory Boarding School Facilities Program through the Ohio School Facilities Commission, with operators required to secure at least $20 million in private funding for facilities; state provides up to 85% of per-pupil operating costs plus $25,000 per-pupil boarding amount (adjusted annually for inflation).

• Schools must offer grades 5-6 initially (max 80 students) and expand to grade 12 (max 400 total students); provide remedial and college-preparatory curricula, extracurriculars, counseling, tutoring, health services, and residential student life programs.

• Establishes reporting requirements for schools and participating districts; allows employees to organize and collectively bargain under Chapter 4117; requires criminal background checks for contractors; mandates reporting of employee misconduct to the superintendent of public instruction.